MACRA Proposed Rule: CMS Provides Details on Implementing Medicare’s New Quality Payment Program

On May 9, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) published a proposed rule addressing the implementation of physician payment reforms included in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (“MACRA”). This proposed rule outlines the CMS framework for the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (“MIPS”) and physician participation in Advanced Alternative Payment Models (“Advanced APMs”), two programs that intend to shift Medicare physician payments toward payments for value over volume. The changes addressed in the proposed rule are immense and complex and will impact more than one million physicians, other practitioners, and medical suppliers who receive Medicare payment under the Physician Fee Schedule. All stakeholders are encouraged to provide CMS with feedback on the proposed rule to help shape how these payment reforms are implemented. Comments are due no later than 5 p.m. (EDT) on June 27, 2016.

Related reading in this series:

• All About APMs: What Will It Take for Physicians to Earn the APM Bonus Under MACRA?
• MIPS Performance Scoring: Understanding How CMS Proposes to Calculate Performance Is Key to Preparing for MIPS Participation